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To an extent, no one seems like a president until they are president, but JFK gave some strong hints of his social potential as a Harvard undergraduate. The Harvard University Archives has a number of images from Kennedy's freshman year, including one of the future president as chair of the Smoker Committee, which each year planned a tobacco-themed party for freshman. Kennedy's party was held in May 1937 at Memorial Hall on the Harvard campus, with tobacco and cigarettes supplied by Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company, appearances by baseball stars Frankie Frisch and Dizzy Dean, and two performances by The Dancing Rhythmettes. In the Smoker Committee picture, Kennedy, who was assassinated 50 years ago this November 22, has better posture and a more serious expression than any of his peers, as if he'd already moved on to bigger productions.

About brainiac Brainiac is the daily blog of the Globe's Sunday Ideas
section, covering news and delights from the worlds of art, science,
literature, history, design, and more. You can follow us on Twitter @GlobeIdeas.

Guest blogger Simon Waxman is Managing Editor of Boston Review and has written for WBUR, Alternet, McSweeney's, Jacobin, and others.

Guest blogger Elizabeth Manus is a writer living in New York City. She has been a book review editor at the Boston Phoenix, and a columnist for The New York Observer and Metro.

Guest blogger Sarah Laskow is a freelance writer and editor in New York City. She edits Smithsonian's SmartNews blog and has contributed to Salon, Good, The American Prospect, Bloomberg News, and other publications.

Guest blogger Joshua Glenn is a Boston-based writer, publisher, and freelance semiotician. He was the original Brainiac
blogger, and is currently editor of the blog HiLobrow, publisher of a series of
Radium Age science fiction novels, and co-author/co-editor of several books,
including the story collection "Significant Objects" and the kids'
field guide to life "Unbored."

Guest blogger Ruth Graham is a freelance journalist in
New Hampshire, and a frequent Ideas contributor. She is a former features
editor for the New York Sun, and has written for publications including Slate
and the Wall Street Journal.

Joshua Rothman is a graduate student and Teaching Fellow in the Harvard English
department, and an Instructor in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy
School of Government. He teaches novels and political writing.